~Pendragon~ ~The Merchant of Death~ - D.J. Machale -
Genre:
Teen Fiction The reason I would label this novel Teen Fiction is because of its use of language as well as situation to tell the story. Within this text there are graphic descriptions of blood and gore, as well as acts of enslavement and needless murder. Also, there is violence as well as use of firearms that may or may not offend those under the age of thirteen. Considering that, the book should be placed in the age group minimum of Teenagers. Another reason that this genre fits is simply because this is a novel in which the protagonist and his friends are of the age of fourteen. Their feelings, ways of thinking, as well as their intentions will relate much better to teenagers of the same or similar age than to adults. Children as well may not gain much from this novel, as the habits and language of the protagonists as well as the antagonists will seem otherworldly. The vocabulary as well will daunt some young readers, so approaching this book at the age of thirteen or higher works best. Given that, plus the amounts of descriptive violence and gore, Teen Fiction is the most appropriate genre Pendragon could be placed into.
Summary:
Humans live their lives in ignorance of other dimensions and time travel, and most if not all wonder if these concepts actually exist in reality. Well, Bobby Pendragon knows. Led by his uncle, a normal carefree boy of age fourteen of that name is propelled into another world, Denduron, finding death, enslavement, and ruthlessness at the hands of men, beasts, and weather at every turn. The Milago, primitive villagers who live in the stone age, are being oppressed by the advanced Bedoowan, who cull the Milago's numbers every chance these malevolent people get. When he is finally told that he is meant to save this world, his first instinct is to bolt back to his own world with his tail between his legs. But, it is his destiny, and he must live up to the expectations that shackle him, or face certain death and destruction not only upon himself, but of hundreds if not thousands of lives that he holds in his very hands.
Major Characters:
Bobby Pendragon: The definition of a normal popular fourteen year old boy, Bobby Pendragon lives a simple teenage life. He’s on the school basketball team, he hangs out with his friends, he has a crush, and his family loves him. But, his carefree life changes one day when his mysterious Uncle Press arrives at his front door at the same time as his first kiss, and proceeds to take him on a journey across space and time, even into another dimension. He walks the subways, flees monsters, known only as Quigs that lurk there, and eventually makes it to the door that begins his adventure. After careful consideration, he utters the words that would bring him to the combatant world of Denduron. There, Bobby learns that he is one of the powerful Travelers, who exist to balance wars and strife within a world. Denduron is the world that he is meant to save. It remains to be seen whether a normal teenage boy, whose ideals reflect those of any other, can save this world, and soon after he arrives he breaks under the pressure of his uncle's imminent demise. Loor, a fellow Traveler, is enraged at Bobby’s lack of ability to take charge, even in the face of his own uncle’s death, and calmly tells him to leave. “You are of no use here, Pendragon. The Milago need someone to have faith in. You are not that person.” It is unknown to either of them at this time whether he will simply be crushed by the expectations of his most beloved friends, or come out on top and save the first of many worlds from the destruction that looms over it.
Mark Dimond: Bobby’s most trusted friend and ally, Mark Dimond, is the stereotypical misunderstood geek that loves star wars figurines and keeps his room like someone would keep a trashcan. He eats too many carrots and gets beaten up at school, but Bobby always makes sure to keep him in the loop of things. After receiving a mysterious ring, Mark reads the journals that Bobby leaves after he disappears one day, unknown whether he will be seen again. After reading, he seeks out the beautiful Courtney Chetwynde, who is skeptical of this tale. “I’m scared, Courtney. I want to know what happened, but I don’t think I can figure it out by myself.” From the writings he witnesses Bobby’s plunge into the unknown, and continues to morally support him from the sidelines of a new arena.
Courtney Chetwynde: Bobby’s mutual crush since the elementary, Courtney is the third person to know about Bobby’s journey to the other world, and she houses the same determination to help him however she can. When Bobby disappears she immediately teams up with Mark to help her, and when she sees that Bobby’s house has vanished, she starts to believe him. “That’s all fantasy to me. But this house…this house being gone is about as real as it gets. If we can find out what happened to the house, maybe that’ll point us toward Bobby. Courtney wishes that Bobby could just come home and back into her arms. But, when Bobby mentions in his journal of a new and strange girl by the name of Loor, said to be extremely beautiful, her jealousy surfaces and she must quell it in order to continue to wait for Bobby faithfully.
Major Conflict: One of the two major conflicts of the book is Bobby's conflict with himself about how he is supposed to save an entire world. From the beginning he is uncertain about the quest that Uncle Press wishes to take him on, coming close to declining yet convincing himself to go. After being transported to the Flume, which allows travelers to surpass space and time, he timidly enters into the unknown. When he finally reaches Denduron, he is fully clued in to his destiny. He is to play a crucial role in ending the war between the primitive Milago and the advanced Bedoowan tribes. He does not fully grasp the situation, having the same ideals as any other listless teenager, and because of his uncertainty he allows Loor's mother to die. This pushes him to act, but the final slam came from the idea that Uncle Press would be executed if left unassisted. This kicked him into high gear and forcing him to overcome his fear and immaturity. He infiltrates the Bedoowan Castle, cunningly tricks the guards with technology from the other world, and arrives at the prison cells to find that Press had already been transported. He escapes and finds out that his uncle is about to be executed in the arena. He jumps into the ring where the Bedoowan wish to execute Press, and bravely faces the knights and ferocious beasts that await him there. From these experiences, Bobby gains a certain amount of wisdom, as well as fortitude, and finally accepts his role in the world's safety.
Symbolic Image:
This hand-drawn symbolic image represents the entirety of the plot of the novel. The door represents the door to the flume and the opening into the new world that Bobby enters into, as well as the door he opens in himself that allows him to accept his task. The hexagon around the star represents the Tak; the explosive force that threatens to rip Denduron apart. The star represents the flume itself, and also represents the shining force that Bobby emanates from him after he gains confidence. Finally, the three symbols within the star represent the three forces at work. That of good, that of balance, and that of evil. The Milago, the Travelers, and the Bedoowan respectively.
Five New or Unusual Words:
Noncommittal; Adjective: Tentative, not revealing commitment. Sentence Found: "Oh?" I shot back. Noncommittal, nonaggressive, perfect.
Inscription; Noun: A pattern of letters carved or printed onto an object. Sentence Found: There was some sort of inscription engraved around the stone, but it was written in no language Mark had ever seen before.
Solitude; Noun: A state of being alone or isolated. Sentence Found: The bell rang and everyone headed for homeroom, but Mark didn't stop until he reached his own personal Fortress of Solitude -- the boy's bathroom on the third floor.
Pulverize; Verb: To pummel, destroy, or shatter something. Sentence Found: A bullet pulverized another tile
Oily; Adjective; Sinister and malevolent. Sentence Found: "But this does not have to be a tragedy," he said with an oily smile.
Similar Works:
Pendragon is similar to many books, but one that stands out is Child Thief, a tale of a boy who is taken to another world by a more realistic and macabre equivalent of Peter Pan. He is forced to fight the evil that resides within this strange new world, and against all odds manages to complete his quest. This rings true for Pendragon as well, considering that Bobby was forced into saving a world, fought a malevolent evil, and manages surmount that evil and bring equilibrium back to Denduron. Another book that seems similar to Pendragon is Ranger's Apprentice, which tells of a boy that is invited into a special warrior class called The Rangers. He is trained in an array of combat techniques, and is then called to arms against the beasts that have been preying on the townspeople. He manages to slay the beast, and even gets the girl. Also a similarity to Pendragon. All in all, the amount of books that somewhat mirror Pendragon may be many, but Pendragon is a truly unique tale. Goodreads Book Review Link: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/427161512
~The Merchant of Death~
- D.J. Machale -
Genre:
Teen Fiction
The reason I would label this novel Teen Fiction is because of its use of language as well as situation to tell the story. Within this text there are graphic descriptions of blood and gore, as well as acts of enslavement and needless murder. Also, there is violence as well as use of firearms that may or may not offend those under the age of thirteen. Considering that, the book should be placed in the age group minimum of Teenagers. Another reason that this genre fits is simply because this is a novel in which the protagonist and his friends are of the age of fourteen. Their feelings, ways of thinking, as well as their intentions will relate much better to teenagers of the same or similar age than to adults. Children as well may not gain much from this novel, as the habits and language of the protagonists as well as the antagonists will seem otherworldly. The vocabulary as well will daunt some young readers, so approaching this book at the age of thirteen or higher works best. Given that, plus the amounts of descriptive violence and gore, Teen Fiction is the most appropriate genre Pendragon could be placed into.
Summary:
Humans live their lives in ignorance of other dimensions and time travel, and most if not all wonder if these concepts actually exist in reality. Well, Bobby Pendragon knows. Led by his uncle, a normal carefree boy of age fourteen of that name is propelled into another world, Denduron, finding death, enslavement, and ruthlessness at the hands of men, beasts, and weather at every turn. The Milago, primitive villagers who live in the stone age, are being oppressed by the advanced Bedoowan, who cull the Milago's numbers every chance these malevolent people get. When he is finally told that he is meant to save this world, his first instinct is to bolt back to his own world with his tail between his legs. But, it is his destiny, and he must live up to the expectations that shackle him, or face certain death and destruction not only upon himself, but of hundreds if not thousands of lives that he holds in his very hands.
Major Characters:
Bobby Pendragon:
The definition of a normal popular fourteen year old boy, Bobby Pendragon lives a simple teenage life. He’s on the school basketball team, he hangs out with his friends, he has a crush, and his family loves him. But, his carefree life changes one day when his mysterious Uncle Press arrives at his front door at the same time as his first kiss, and proceeds to take him on a journey across space and time, even into another dimension. He walks the subways, flees monsters, known only as Quigs that lurk there, and eventually makes it to the door that begins his adventure. After careful consideration, he utters the words that would bring him to the combatant world of Denduron. There, Bobby learns that he is one of the powerful Travelers, who exist to balance wars and strife within a world. Denduron is the world that he is meant to save. It remains to be seen whether a normal teenage boy, whose ideals reflect those of any other, can save this world, and soon after he arrives he breaks under the pressure of his uncle's imminent demise. Loor, a fellow Traveler, is enraged at Bobby’s lack of ability to take charge, even in the face of his own uncle’s death, and calmly tells him to leave. “You are of no use here, Pendragon. The Milago need someone to have faith in. You are not that person.” It is unknown to either of them at this time whether he will simply be crushed by the expectations of his most beloved friends, or come out on top and save the first of many worlds from the destruction that looms over it.
Mark Dimond:
Bobby’s most trusted friend and ally, Mark Dimond, is the stereotypical misunderstood geek that loves star wars figurines and keeps his room like someone would keep a trashcan. He eats too many carrots and gets beaten up at school, but Bobby always makes sure to keep him in the loop of things. After receiving a mysterious ring, Mark reads the journals that Bobby leaves after he disappears one day, unknown whether he will be seen again. After reading, he seeks out the beautiful Courtney Chetwynde, who is skeptical of this tale. “I’m scared, Courtney. I want to know what happened, but I don’t think I can figure it out by myself.” From the writings he witnesses Bobby’s plunge into the unknown, and continues to morally support him from the sidelines of a new arena.
Courtney Chetwynde:
Bobby’s mutual crush since the elementary, Courtney is the third person to know about Bobby’s journey to the other world, and she houses the same determination to help him however she can. When Bobby disappears she immediately teams up with Mark to help her, and when she sees that Bobby’s house has vanished, she starts to believe him. “That’s all fantasy to me. But this house…this house being gone is about as real as it gets. If we can find out what happened to the house, maybe that’ll point us toward Bobby. Courtney wishes that Bobby could just come home and back into her arms. But, when Bobby mentions in his journal of a new and strange girl by the name of Loor, said to be extremely beautiful, her jealousy surfaces and she must quell it in order to continue to wait for Bobby faithfully.
Major Conflict:
One of the two major conflicts of the book is Bobby's conflict with himself about how he is supposed to save an entire world. From the beginning he is uncertain about the quest that Uncle Press wishes to take him on, coming close to declining yet convincing himself to go. After being transported to the Flume, which allows travelers to surpass space and time, he timidly enters into the unknown. When he finally reaches Denduron, he is fully clued in to his destiny. He is to play a crucial role in ending the war between the primitive Milago and the advanced Bedoowan tribes. He does not fully grasp the situation, having the same ideals as any other listless teenager, and because of his uncertainty he allows Loor's mother to die. This pushes him to act, but the final slam came from the idea that Uncle Press would be executed if left unassisted. This kicked him into high gear and forcing him to overcome his fear and immaturity. He infiltrates the Bedoowan Castle, cunningly tricks the guards with technology from the other world, and arrives at the prison cells to find that Press had already been transported. He escapes and finds out that his uncle is about to be executed in the arena. He jumps into the ring where the Bedoowan wish to execute Press, and bravely faces the knights and ferocious beasts that await him there. From these experiences, Bobby gains a certain amount of wisdom, as well as fortitude, and finally accepts his role in the world's safety.
Symbolic Image:
This hand-drawn symbolic image represents the entirety of the plot of the novel. The door represents the door to the flume and the opening into the new world that Bobby enters into, as well as the door he opens in himself that allows him to accept his task. The hexagon around the star represents the Tak; the explosive force that threatens to rip Denduron apart. The star represents the flume itself, and also represents the shining force that Bobby emanates from him after he gains confidence. Finally, the three symbols within the star represent the three forces at work. That of good, that of balance, and that of evil. The Milago, the Travelers, and the Bedoowan respectively.
Five New or Unusual Words:
Noncommittal; Adjective: Tentative, not revealing commitment. Sentence Found: "Oh?" I shot back. Noncommittal, nonaggressive, perfect.
Inscription; Noun: A pattern of letters carved or printed onto an object. Sentence Found: There was some sort of inscription engraved around the stone, but it was written in no language Mark had ever seen before.
Solitude; Noun: A state of being alone or isolated. Sentence Found: The bell rang and everyone headed for homeroom, but Mark didn't stop until he reached his own personal Fortress of Solitude -- the boy's bathroom on the third floor.
Pulverize; Verb: To pummel, destroy, or shatter something. Sentence Found: A bullet pulverized another tile
Oily; Adjective; Sinister and malevolent. Sentence Found: "But this does not have to be a tragedy," he said with an oily smile.
Similar Works:
Pendragon is similar to many books, but one that stands out is Child Thief, a tale of a boy who is taken to another world by a more realistic and macabre equivalent of Peter Pan. He is forced to fight the evil that resides within this strange new world, and against all odds manages to complete his quest. This rings true for Pendragon as well, considering that Bobby was forced into saving a world, fought a malevolent evil, and manages surmount that evil and bring equilibrium back to Denduron. Another book that seems similar to Pendragon is Ranger's Apprentice, which tells of a boy that is invited into a special warrior class called The Rangers. He is trained in an array of combat techniques, and is then called to arms against the beasts that have been preying on the townspeople. He manages to slay the beast, and even gets the girl. Also a similarity to Pendragon. All in all, the amount of books that somewhat mirror Pendragon may be many, but Pendragon is a truly unique tale.
Goodreads Book Review Link:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/427161512